How to know a saint.

From time to time, I see some of the saints praise a person who is still alive as a saint (Contemplation, One, Arrogance, Arahant, Enlightened, etc.), I wonder Does this truly close friendship, clearly understand the "saint" for a long time or not? Or just based on subjective sentimental comments through several meetings, short meditations, rumors, a few books, or some dharma talk on the Internet?

In the Jatila Sutta, Udana, 6.2, the Buddha preached to the king Pasenadi of Kosala how to recognize an enlightened being, perhaps Those standards are still valid for us today:

1) We are ordinary lay people, living at home, busy talking about family, rice money, mind dispersed by social stories, not really devoted to study, not really understand life The life of those who are religious. Therefore, it is very difficult for us to evaluate their study and the results of their practice.

2) Need to be close, spend a lot of time to observe. Not because of speculation, some pictures, information on the Internet or some Youtube videos, or some textbooks, or some sermons, meditation instructions.

3) It is necessary to be close and to comment on the moral life, live according to his precepts, especially to observe and record what happens behind the scenes.

4) It is necessary to be close to the response of the person before the eight winds of life (glory, loss, praise, suffering) and his behavior towards others.

5) It is necessary to talk, exchange ideas with him, and comment with a clear mind, not because of feelings, prejudices, or dazzled by the phenomenon "halo.

For me, although there are opportunities for contact with some monks or intellectuals, I still do not dare to affirm that I have known a saint. Please emphasize the word "not" here. Because I may have met, but because I'm still a mundane, still ignorant, ignorant, so perhaps I have not realized.

And I also asked myself: - Is it really necessary to meet a saint? Met to do? In the end, each man must make his own efforts, self-lit the torch.

* * *

JATILA (self-taught Buddha, Udana, 6.2)

The Pasenadi asked the Buddha about seven naked nuns who braided their hair:

- Is the Sun worshipers are the Arahants in this life, or are you going on the path to Arahant?

The Buddha replied:

- Sir, when Dai Vuong is a layman while still living with his family, enjoy life pleasures, his wife and children tie up, familiar with all kinds of sheep in Kàsi, jewelry with wreaths, aroma, wax, gold and silver enjoyment, it is very difficult to know that the monarch is an arhat or a step is going to the direction of Arhat.

Your Majesty, you must know the virtue of a man, and so, for a long time, can not be a few days; must have volition, not without volition; Must have wisdom, not with wisdom.

It is the great king who has to communicate to know the purity of a person, and so, for a long time, can not be a few days; must have volition, not without volition; Must have wisdom, not with wisdom.

It is in the unhappy time to know the loyalty of one person, and so, for a long time, can not be a few days; must have volition, not not volition; Must have wisdom, not with wisdom.

Sir, it is necessary to talk to know the wisdom of a person, and so, must for a long time, can not be a few days; must have volition, not not volition; Must have wisdom, not with wisdom.

* * *

"Sir, it is difficult to know that the great king is a layman, having a good education, living with his children, enjoying the incense of Kāsī, wearing corolla, perfume, and lipstick, are accepting gold and silver: 'These are the Arahants or they are practicing the Arahantship.'

Great emperor, by the community, gender can be recognized. And it is for a long time not short, because the attention is not by the uninteresting person, because the intellect is not by the bad person.

Great king, by communication, integrity can be perceived. And it is for a long time, because the attention is not by the uninteresting person, because the intellectual is not by the bad person.

Grandfather, when there are unhappiness, stability can be recognized. And it is for a long time, because the attention is not by the uninteresting person, because the intellectual is not by the bad person.

Great emperor, by conversation, wisdom can be recognized. And that is for a long time, because the person is paying attention not because the person is not paying attention, because the person who is not the wise person is the bad person. " END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.29/11/2018.